Apparatus for filling receptacles



Jan. 21, 1936. ANDERSON v 7 2,028,266

, APPARATUS FOR FILLING RECEPTACLES Filed Jan. 26, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 1Mum - 1936- 12. D. ANDERSON 2,028, 66

APPARATUS FOR FILLING RECEPTACLES Filed Jan. 26, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q61 I 4/ 53' 45 2, f 3 e 12- I "O I f 1 2205' 3 7E I 26 1 a4 22 65 0 J 25Jan. 21, 1936. R. D. ANDERS-ON 2,028,266

APPARATUS FOR FILLING RECEPTACLES Filed Ja 26, 1933 5 Sheets-She et 5Jan-- 6- R. D. ANDERSON 2,0

APPARATUS FOR FILLING RECEPTACLES Filed Jan, 26, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 4Jan. 21, 1936.

R. D. ANDERSON APPARATUS FOR FILLING RECEPTAQLES Filed Jan, 26 1933 I 514 x 1 51 28 j Y 32. 24%: l V

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 UNlTEDS-TATES PATKENT OFFICE srrana'rus FOB FILLINGaEcErrAcnEs Richard D. Anderson, Baton Rouge, La., assignor to StandardOil Development Company, a corporatlon of Delaware Application January2c. 1933, Serial No. 653,578

110laims. (01. 226-96) This invention relates to improvements inapparatus for filling receptacles with fluid. More particularly itrelates to an improved apparatus for filling cans with grease.

It is an object of this invention to provide a rotary apparatus forsuccessively measuring predetermined quantities of grease and forsuccessively ejecting the measured grease into suitable rceptacles.

It is a further object to provide a construction whereby the measuringcylinders are filled at one location and are discharged at aseparaterlocation." Still another object is to control the operation 0!filling the measuring cylinders with grease and the ejection of thegrease from the cylinders while the cylinders are in motion.

Other objects will be apparentyfrom the specification and from theaccompanying drawings in which latterv Fig. 1 is a front elevationalview with parts broken away 0! the device;

Fig. 2 is a'rear elevational with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the device with parts broken away taken online III-III of Fig. 5;

Fig. 4 is a-transverse sectional view of the device taken along the lineIV-IV of Fig. 3;

view of the device Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view of the devicetaken along the line V-V of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 isa cross sectional view of the device taken along the line VI-VIof Fig. 1 lookingp; A

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view of the device taken alongthe lineVIIVII of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 isa detail of the valve seat showing Fig. 9 is a detail or andstem; I

Fig. 10 is a top view of valve head and section through stem showingspaced openings;

Fig. 11 is an assembly view 'showing valve head. and stem over valveseatswhen valve is closed;

Fig. 12 is a top detail view of piston rod and cam rolls; and

- Fig. 13 is a side detailview of piston rod and 3 cam rolls.

Referring. particularly to the drawings, referdevice. A tubularsupporting column 2 extends upwardly from the bed plate I." Thesupporting column is'divided by a bottom plate .3 and a top plate A toterm a reservoir '5 for the fluid-such as grease. The grease is suppliedto the reservoir 5 through a conduit i bymeans of a suitable pump 1,under a suitable pressure such-as approximately 4 pounds per squareinch. A; cylinder 8 commuq nicates with the pp oi the reservoir portingtruck of the side view of valve head .21 is provided at ence numeral ldesignates the bed plate or suppiston rod which is fixed in positionprovided with a laterally elongated exhaust port ii for delivery ofgrease from the reservoir. The piston I0 is weighted sufiiciently tomaintain a uniform flow of grease through the exhaust port 15 eventhough there should be a variation in the pump pressure upon the grease10 entering the reservoir 5 which might cause uneven flow or grease intothe reservoir.

The lubricant is delivered from the reservoir 5 to a measuring anddistributing apparatus which is rotatably mounted with respect tothelBtubular support column 2. The measuring apparatus comprises a tubularbracket 20' which is rotatably supported upon anannular flange H whichprojects outwardly from the supporting column 2. The tubular bracket 20is pro- 20 vided at its opposite ends with gland nuts 22, the lower oneof which revolves upon a thrust roller bearing 23. A stufiing box 24 isprovided 1 at top and bottom of the bracket 20. The bracket 20 is drivenin rotation in a clockwise 2 direction as viewed in Fig. 3 in a mannerto be later described. A plurality of measuring cylinders a to pinclusive are supported radially exteriorly oi the bracket 20. Emptycans X which are to be filled with grease are fed from a table 25manually or otherwise to a revolving table 26 between spacing fingers25a.

The measuring cylinders are tioned in a circle just above the pocketsormed by the spacing pins 260.. The measuring cylinders each include acylindrical body 21 which is connected adjacent its base to the bracket2!. by means or a tubular'arm 28. Theinterior of each tubular arm 28communicatcswith one 0! a plurality of openings 28 on the-bracket 20.The cylinder 40 itsbpttom with a hopper 3| having a discharge opening32. A valve a extends across the cylinder above the hopp r. The valveseat}? is provided with a plurality; such as seven, oi. spaced orifices34. A valve disposed 3 within the cylinder has a valve head 38 extendingacross the cylinder, and a valve stem 31 projecting upwardly from thevalve head. The valve head is provided with a plurality such as sevenopenings 38. The valve is adapted to be rotated so as'to successivelyalign and disalign theopenings 38 with'the orifices 34, see Figs. 8, 9,10 and 11. The capacity of the cylinder is varied by means of anadjustable cover 45.

The grease is ejected from the measuring cylinder by means of a piston46 having a tubularl'l. The piston 46 is reciprocable I the cylinder asfar asring 48 within the cylinder at downwardly in theopening of thepassageway 28 with the interior of the cylinder. The ring 48 isperforated to permit passage of grease into the cylinder. The ring 48prevents the valve 36 from rising in the cylinder and prevents thepiston 46 from dropping below the port opening. The valve stem 31extends non-rotatably through the piston head 46 into the tubular pistonrod 41 whereby the piston can be reciprocated longitudinally of the.valve stem and rotation of the,

piston causes rotation of the valve stem. The piston rod carries at itsupper end a. vertically facing roll 49 which is adapted to engage a cam58 for forcing the piston downwardly in the cylinder to eject greasefrom the cylinder into -a receptacle. The cam ,56 is positioned to beeneject the grease from the cylinders into the cans The valve 36 foropening and closing the bottom of the measuring cylinder is actuated bythe following arrangement of parts: The piston rod is provided withlaterally extending brackets 51 and 68, see Figs. 12 and '13, whichcarry laterally facing cam rolls 58 and 66 respectively. The mils 68 and66 follow the side walls 6| and 62 respectively of an annular camway 63formed in the cover plate 4. The walls 6| and 62 of the camway areinclined radially inwardly at 64 and 66 respectively and are inclinedradially outwardly at 66 and 61 respectively, as clearly shown in Figs.3 and 6. As the assembly of measuring cylinders rotates in a clockwisedirection, as viewed in Fig. 3, the roll 69 in passing from the positionof measuring cylinder a to that of measuring cylinder b engages theinclined surface 64 oi the camway' retarding the movement of the roll 68sufliciently to cause the piston rod 41 to be rotated about itslongitudinal axis thereby turning the valve 86 to bring the ports 88 and84 into alignment to permit discharge of grease from the measuringcylinder. The discharge openings are maintained in alignment from theposition of the measuring cylinder b to the position of the measuringcylinder i. during which period the grease ejecting piston 46 isdescending within the cylinder.

Upon leaving the position of the measuring cylinder i the roll 66 iscaused to ride up the radially outwardly inclined wall 61 of the camwaythereby retarding the peripheral movement of the cam roll 66 and causingthe piston rod 41 to be rotated about its longitudinal axis, therebyturning the valve 36 sufiiciently to bring theports 88 and 34 at thebottom of the measuring cylinder out of alignment.' The valve 86 isclosed in the bottom of the measuring cylinder .and the cylinder isready to receive a new charge of grease. The cans X are thus filled withgreasein predetermined amounts such as one pound. Upon continuedrotation of the table 28, the filled cans are engaged by a tapered arm16 which diverts the cans away from the revolving table 28.

Upon continued rotation of the measuring cylinder assembly the inletport 26 to each measuring cylinder is brought into alignment with theoblong port I! in the walloi reservoir 5. Pressure is maintained in thereservoir 6 by a grease pump and the weighted piston. The valve 36 beingin closed position, the grease is injected into the measuring cylinderunder suificient pressure to elevate the piston 46 to its uppermostposition thus filling the measuring cylinder with a predetermined amountof grease. Further rotation of the assembly in' a clockwise direction,as viewed in Fig. 3, brings the refilled measuring cylinder to theposition indicated at a where a fresh can is positioned beneath themeasuring cylinder. 4

The assembly is driven in rotation by means of a motor 86 which actuatesa worm shaft gear 8|; see Figs. 1 and 2. A worm, not shown, driven bythe worm gear 8| drives a worm gear 82. The worm gear 82 drives a shaft83 and an operating pinion 84 which meshes with a gear 85 aifixed'to therotatable table 26.

By the construction described, the measuring cylinders 21 are filled atone place and are discharged at another. A plurality such as sevenmeasuring cylinders are permitted to discharge grease at the same time,and the grease in the cans is allowed to level and not pile up. Thevalve 36 is .opened and closed and the piston 46 is pressed down whilethe cylinders 21 are in piston 46 is in either its upperor .lowerposition, since the valve stem 31 reciprocates in the hollow piston rod41.

Various changes may be made within the scope of theappended claims inwhich it is desired to claim all novelty inherent in the invention asbroadly as the prior art permits.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for filling'receptacles, comprising 'a tubular bracketmounted for rotation, a table for spaced receptacles extending aroundand carried by the bracket, a. plurality of measuring cylindersextending aroundv and carried by the bracket over and opening toward thereceptacles, means for rotating the bracket, means including apump andpiston for successivelyinjecting fluid into'each cylinder, and

means for successively ejecting thefluid from the cylinders into thereceptacles. f 2. Apparatus for filling receptacles, comprising acylindrical reservoir, means for injecting fiuid into the reservoir, aweighted piston communicating with the reservoir for maintaining thefluid under pressure, a tubular bracket mounted for rotation, a tablefor spaced receptacles extending around and carried by the bracket, aplurality of measuring cylinders extending around and carried by thebracket over the receptacle to be filled, means for rotating thebracket, the bracket havingmeans for successively passing the fluid fromthe reservoir into the cylinders, and means for successively ejectingthe fiuid from the cylinders into the receptacles.

3. Apparatus for filling receptacles comprising a bracket mounted forrotation, a table for spaced receptacles extending around and carried bythe bracket, a plurality of measuring cylinders extending around thebracket, a dismotion. The valve 36 can be operated when the ings overthereceptacles, a piston in each measa sence through the piston into thetubular piston rod, means for rotating the piston and valve to open thevalve, and means foriorcing the piston toward the opening whereby ameasured quantity of fluid is ejected from the cylinder into thereceptacle. v

4. Apparatus for filling receptacles,v comprising a bracket mounted forrotation, a table for spaced receptacles extending around and carried bythe bracket, a plurality of measuring cylinders extending around andcarried by the bracket, the cylinders having discharge openuringcylinder reciprocable towardhmd from the discharge outlet and having atubular piston rod, a stationary semi-circular cam disposed opposite thepistons and inclined toward the pistons whereby forced toward thedischarge outlet, a valve controlling the outlet and associated with thepiston, and means for rotating the piston and,

v valve to control the outlet.

its side wall, a

5. Apparatus for filling receptacles, comprising a cylindrical-reservoirior fluid under pump pressure and containing a discharge orifice intation around the reservoir, a table for spaced receptacles extendingaround and carried by the bracket, a plurality of measuring cylindersexcarried by. the bracket, the measuring cylinders having dischargeopenings over the receptacles,-'means for rotating the bracket, thebracket having passageways leading from the cylinders through thebracket on a level with the discharge orifice in the side .wall of thereservoir whereby the cylinders are successively filled with fluid at agiven position of their rotary travel, a valve controlling the dischargeoutlet in each cylinder, a piston in each measuring. cylinderreciprocable toward and from the discharge outlet, means Iorsuccessively actuating the valves,and pistons and spacing means at thepassageways to prevent the pistons from closing the passageways.

6. Apparatus for filling receptacles, comprising a bracket mounted forrotation, spaced receptacles extending around by the bracket, aplurality of measuring cylinders extending around and carried by the.bracket and opening 'overthe-receptacles, a source of fluid underpressure. communicating with the cylinders, a rotary valve for thedischarge opening of each cylinder, a piston reciprocable-and rotatablein each cylinder and operatively connected to its valve, means forrotating each piston to successively close and open its valve,

and means. for actuating the piston to eject fluid through the openvalve. 1

'1. Apparatus for filling receptacles, comprising a bracket mounted forrotation, *a table for .spaced receptacles extending around and carriedby the bracket, a plurality of measuring cylinders extending arc andeach having a discharge opening over the receptacles, means including apump and piston for successively injecting fluid into each cylinder, arotary valve for the discharge opening or each cylinder, a pistonrecipr'ocable and rotatable in each cylinder and operatively connectedto its g eachpiston to sucvalve, means for rotat cessively close andopen its valve, and means for actuating the, pistontoeiect fluid throughthe v open valve,

a piston reciprocable and the pistons are successively tubular bracketmounted for ro-g .and rotatable in each cylinder let, a valve seat atable i'or. and carried 'to the valve, an

d and carried by the bracket cylinders through an inlet, each cylinderhaving an outlet, a rotary valve between the inlet and outlet of eachcylinder and having a valve stem, rotatable in each cylinder andoperatively connected to its valve stem,"

, means for rotating each piston to successively close and open thevalve, andmeans for actuating each piston to eject fiuid through theopen valve. I

9. Apparatus for filling receptacles, comprising a bracket mounted forrotation, a tableIor' spaced receptacles extending around and carried bythe bracket, a plurality of measuring cylinders extending around andcarried by the bracket and opening over the receptacles, each measuringcylinder having an inlet and an out:- let, a rotary valve between theinlet and outlet and having a valve stem, a piston reciprocable and'operatively connected to the stem of its valve, cam followersassociated with each piston, a circular camwa'y disposed in the path orthe cam followers operable to turn the pistons to open and close thevalves, a second circular camway disposed in the path of the piston-rodsoperable tocontrol-longitudinal reciprocation oithe pistons, whereby thefluid is ejected through the open valves of the cylinders. H

10. In apparatus for filling a receptacle, a measuring cylinder havingan inlet and an outbetween the inlet and outlet and having at least oneopening, a rotary valve the head or which has at least one openingadapted to be rotated into alignment with the opening of the valve seatand which extends across the cylinder, an annular sleevefixed within thecylinder operative to hold the valve a piston reciprocable and rotatablein the cylinder and operatively connected to the valve whereby thepiston can be rotated to successively close and open the valve and canbe reciprocated to eject fluid through the open valve.

- 11. In apparatus for filling a receptacle, a measuring cylinder havingan inlet in its side- 'wall and a bottom across the cylinder between theinlet and outlet and having at least one opening, a rotary valve 55 thehead. of which extends across the cylinder and has at least one-openingadapted to be rotated into alignment with the opening or the valve seat,and a piston reciprocableand 'rotatable in the cylinder and operativeiyconnected so annular slee ve fixed within the cylinder across the inletoperative to hold the valve head against the seat and having an openingcommunicating with the inlet, the sleeve preventing movement of thepiston-to close the inlet,- 5 rotation of the piston being adapted tosuccessively close and open the valve, and the reciprocation of thepiston being adapted to eject fluid through the open valve.

extending across the cylinder I head against the seat, and

outlet, a valve seat extending

